Scatter Brain

Hello to all of you!!! I know it may seem like things are a bit scattered. It looks as if I have slowed a bit, and in all actuality I have a bit. However, behind the scenes I have been working on a few things more. Currently I have started a new Facebook page so it is easier to see, comment, share, and react to everything. That way it is easier to come in contact here on Busy Buggies as well. So, let’s spread the word and stretch our community out.

Then, I’ve started a forum for all of us to get a bit more specific in areas. This way we can connect in more areas, and break things down even further to help each other. You do need to register on the forums to participate. They are also under construction, so bear with me as I go through and make them a bit more user-friendly and test them out as we go.

There are a few other things I have in the works, but as I am unsure of how long it will or will not take to get them off the ground, I’m going to keep them under my hat until they are further along. With that being said…

What do you do when your brain runs wild with ideas?

When you have so many things going on in your head that you can’t stop thinking about anything, and it is stopping you from concentrating on getting things done. So much so that you are literally running circles around your house and not really getting things done. Does this really happen? Absolutely. Don’t believe me? You should see my house right now! I can really get going so badly that I get overwhelmed with what needs to be done, and what I want to do, as well as what I cannot do… It is so overwhelming it can be debilitating. Anyone that tells you differently has never experienced this.

When this happens it isn’t something you can control, so shutting it off, and picking a spot and going is just not a possibility. Praying about it is my first answer, always. Here I am…”Dear God, please help me to focus on getting my house cleaned, and help me figure out how I can figure this plan, and oh yeah, thanks for…and what do you think of….,” So, even God gets an earful. I’ve tried shuffling the children off outside so that I can focus with out the, “mommy, mommy, mommy,” My husband has taken the kids to the park for me to concentrate, and even this has led to me with a full notebook and only light housework done. So, does this circle ever end?

What does it feel like?

When this happens, it is often said you should make a list of the things that are going through your head of the things you need and want to do. Then check off the things you have gotten done. So, you end up making a list that often is a page long. And you may only check off a quarter of the page. By the end of the day you feel like you haven’t accomplished a thing. You look back on the day, and your house and think, where has the day gone, and how did not get anything done!!! What DID I do with my day.

Something I noticed.

Yes, I write my lists to help focus myself. They do help. However, it takes more than writing what is in my head at the time I write them, then checking it off later. You also have to write down what you did that is not on your list. So, you have your, “To Do” list and your, “To Done” list. For instance, among my dishes, laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, writing, yard work, organizing, and other wifely and motherly duties I have to add in, fixing the neighbor’s T.V. and nebulizer. Or walking down and checking out what that scary noise was for my friend in the middle of the night, while I’m doing my night owl cleaning or creative time.

Then you have to include how many drop in visitors you had during the day, where you had to entertain instead of clean or work on your other things. How many breaks you took because you didn’t realize how much energy one thing would take and you over did it. Or just because you overwhelmed yourself again. Even because you are dreading starting another thing, so you took that extra cigarette break.

Another thing I do not account for, personally, is how long it may or may not take for researching something, or making all those phone calls to schedule those doctors appointments, arrange rides, find baby sitters, look for car parts for your husbands, and (of course) make the fun calls to the family members you don’t get to see often, so you are on the phone for hours wandering the house randomly, not doing anything, but doing everything in the process.

What to do?

Make that list. The one that is a mile long of what is in your head. It really is helping. But, like I said, don’t forget to write your to done list. You need to be sure that you are recording both what is in your head and what you have actually done. Also, record what is going on in the day. If you had 10 visitors, then write that down. If you made 20 calls that day, write that down too. Record the amount of breaks you took, but take that one a step further, and write down why you took that break. Especially if they are smoke breaks. Write down how you felt when you took those breaks. You may be surprised at the end of the day, when you read what you wrote during the day.

Then, when all is said and done, at the end of the day, do your day’s end routine, and shut the lights off in your house, lock the doors, and DO NOT stand back and look at the mess left behind. DO NOT dwell on what you could not get to. Trust me, it isn’t going to grow legs and walk away. Set that notebook aside, and leave it for the morning, and DO NOT think about what you did or did not do during the day. Just worry about getting an actual good night’s rest for once. You would be surprised what a lack of sleep would get you. (Somewhere out there my sister is reading this and rolling laughing saying, “FOR SURE!!!”)

In the morning, after you have gotten ready for the day, when you sit down for your morning cup of coffee, and start your morning list, then go through it. Look at how your day went. Look at WHY your day went like that. Then, when you write your new daily list, you can figure out why you are having that problem catching up with your brain.

It will take time. This will never solve itself over night. Also, there are plenty of times that medical help is needed. DO NOT feel ashamed if you need to ask your doctor for help. And, do not wait until you have a nervous break down to do it. Things like this create extra unneeded stress. Stress can do many, many nasty things to our bodies. It does not make us weak to ask for professional help. As I’ve said in the past, I am, in no way, a professional. You should never take my advice over your doctor’s advice. If this is a serious problem, please, GO TO YOUR DOCTOR!!!

All in all

Yes, I’ve been a bit scattered lately. But not as much as you might think. I haven’t forgotten all my buggies out there. I’m working to make things easier to communicate, and hope to expand our community so we all can help each other and connect even more. I’ve done this by creating new forums as well as a Facebook group.

Also, you are not the only scatter brained buggy mommy out there. So, you don’t have to feel lonely or singled out anymore. Hang in there, mama. We’re here. Leave me a comment below to let me know how you deal with some of your scatter brain issues.